SC Barnard Castle, England
Job description
SC – Managing Chaplain – 75352
£39,674 – £45,625
Barnard Castle
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
Overview of the job
This is a management job which provides leadership and facilitates/enables religious and pastoral care to prisoners and staff within an establishment.
Summary
The job holder will be responsible for leading and managing the multi faith chaplaincy team.
The job holder will provide for the religious and pastoral care of prisoners and staff in their own faith tradition, and appropriate pastoral care for all irrespective of faith tradition.
The job holder will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of the specification “Faith and Pastoral Care”, the broader work of Chaplaincy in delivering faith and non-faith based courses and ensuring the Governor and Head of Chaplaincy/Profession at Headquarters is provided with assurance that the specification “Faith and Pastoral Care” is being delivered.
This is a non-operational job with line management responsibilities.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Responsible for leading and managing the multi faith chaplaincy team ensuring chaplains are available and accessible to prisoners
- Ensure chaplains are receiving training and development opportunities
- Provide pastoral care and seek to ensure spiritual welfare of prisoners and staff
- Responsible for arranging and leading worship for own faith community
- Provide expert faith advice within establishment and be responsible for supporting the establishment in ensuring faith groups observe their religious holy days and festivals
- Acquire and distribute appropriate religious literature, supplies and materials.
- Responsible for leading on developing relationships with various support and volunteer groups
- Responsible for the contact strategy with outside faith based agencies to help with the resettlement of prisoners
- Responsible for planning and leading workshops and prayer/faith specific meetings
- Responsible for ensuring input into, and contributing to, safeguarding, allocations, referrals, inductions and Diversity Race Equality Action Team (DREAT), as appropriate
- Responsible for ensuring and delivering awareness programmes for prisoners, including bereavement programmes and lifer programmes, as applicable, and local Faith Awareness Training for staff
- Work closely with Safer Custody to ensure issues such as deaths in custody procedures, Assessment Care in Custody Teamwork (ACCT) and Violence Reduction are delivered in-line with HMPPS standards
- Responsible for ensuring, and contributing to, supporting prisoners in dealing with bereavement by liaising with families/prisoners and other third parties e.g. hospitals, Coroners offices
- Plan, organise hospital visits, weddings, funerals, memorial services, where appropriate
- Responsible for ensuring and contributing to the delivery of daily statutory duties which include interviewing all new prisoners, visiting prisoners in healthcare and Care and Separation Unit (CSU) responding to prisoner applications and being available prior to discharge
- Responsible for ensuring the involvement of the Chaplaincy team in resettlement issues as appropriate, and engage and build contacts with own faith community towards aiding the resettlement of prisoners
- Responsible for ensuring and contributing to prisoner reports including, Lifer Reports, and Parole Reports as appropriate
- Responsible for the use of the chaplaincy facilities and maintenance of the equipment used
- Ensure appropriate training for chaplaincy volunteers; nurture volunteers in their contribution
- Where appropriate act as Official Prison Visitor Liaison Officer
- Ensure effective administration of chaplaincy, including prisoner lists for events, records updated etc
- Provide mentoring and personal support for other chaplains and volunteers, including following incidents
- Take responsibility for your own spiritual health and development, allowing time for private prayer, study and retreat
Undertake other management tasks including:
- Accountable for the performance of the Chaplaincy team and the staff within it. Manage the achievement of qualitative and quantitative standards including Service Delivery Indicators (SDI’s) within the function, verifying and signing off documentation as appropriate. Analyse and act upon data which is relevant to Chaplaincy
- Ensure that all staff within the Chaplaincy team contribute to providing decent conditions for prisoners and a safe working environment for staff
- Promote prison service policy in all activities and behaviours e.g. promote diversity, decency, safety and reducing re-offending agendas
- Will have the skills to apply all Human Resources (HR) related policies and practices and be able to carry out all aspects of people management such as attendance management, disciplinary investigations, performance management and staff appraisals
- Responsible for ensuring prisoner’s complaints (including those involving litigation claims) relevant to the Chaplaincy team, have been dealt with in accordance with policy
- Produce relevant reports as required and ensure all correspondence is replied to within agreed timescales
- Oversee the compilation and achievement of any performance improvement programmes, reporting on progress regularly as appropriate
- Manage the appropriate authorisation of financial compliance statements
- Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation
- Ensure that Chaplaincy produces and analyses audit and establishment performance management information identifying variances and areas requiring improvements
- Contribute to the establishment’s overall achievement of (SDIs) and standards and be accountable for the performance and delivery of targets relating to the budget and People Plan for the function
- Responsible for leading the development of local policy, procedures and practice and the implementation of national policy in relation to the chaplaincy service and lead activities. Contributes toward the development of general HMPPS local policy, procedures and practice. Ensures that current Chaplaincy practice is in line with policy (both national and local)
- Contribute to the development and delivery of the medium-to-long term strategic and business plan for the establishment, with overall responsibility for implementation within their function
- Attend relevant boards/meetings and actively contribute either as chair or team member
- Responsible for ensuring work areas and associated activities comply with Health and Safety legislation. Ensure all risk assessments are undertaken and staff are made aware of their personal responsibility towards Health and Safety compliance
- Work collaboratively and provide constructive challenge to colleagues to ensure that their own and other functions are joined up and together contribute towards the overall delivery of the establishments performance
- Contribute to the preparation of the establishment contingency and emergency plans and ensure implementation when required.
- Carries out investigations and administration in relation to incidents of potential discrimination and reports on findings.
- Responsible for ensuring relevant actions arising from Standard Audit, Her Majesty Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) Action Plans, Managing Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) surveys including local self audit action plans and Resettlement strategies are delivered
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.
Behaviours
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Working Together
Essential Experience
The job holder must meet the HMPPS specified faith eligibility requirements of their faith tradition. Details of some of the HMPPS faith eligibility requirements can be found on the list appended.
Will have proven experience and skills in pastoral care and pastoral leadership, including crisis events.
Faith Eligibility Requirements:
- Be a committed Buddhist living by a moral standard of at least that of the Five Precepts and meditate regularly.
- Display a competent understanding of Buddhist teaching and practice.
- Have demonstrable knowledge of Buddhist schools other than the one to which you belong and be willing to help and encourage interest in, and practice of those schools, when required.
- Have endorsement by the Prison Service Buddhist Faith Adviser* (Evidence required before appointment)
- Be an ordained member of the Anglican Communion (or of churches part of the Porvoo and Meissen Agreements).
- Will normally need to have been in Holy Orders for a minimum of three years.
- Have formal endorsement in the form of the Licence of the Diocesan Bishop.
Licensed Reader, Religious Brother/Sister
- Be a licensed Reader, ordained Deacon
- Be a Religious sister or brother, Church Army officer or other appropriately qualified or licensed minister in the Anglican tradition*] subject to agreement from Anglican Bishop to Prisons.
- Have formal endorsement in the form of the licence of the Diocesan Bishop
- Be an ordained (or denominational equivalent) minister of a free church denomination / church grouping which is either a member of the Free Churches Group, Churches Together in England or Churches Together in Wales. Ordained Free Church chaplains are trained faith practitioners in their own communities.
- Ordained (or denominational equivalent) chaplains will have shown through at least two years post-ordination / accreditation experience that they can effectively practice and fulfil the skills and competencies required of a Faith leader. A formal recognised qualification in theology or religious study and Professional Recognition by their denomination generally representing at least 3 years of study, normally to Degree standard will be required of all ordained chaplains.
Non Ordained Chaplains
- Be a lay minister of a Free Church denomination / church grouping which is either a member of the Free Churches Group, Churches Together in England or Churches Together in Wales. Non-ordained Free Church chaplains are trained faith practitioners in their own communities.
- Non-Ordained chaplains will have completed a level of study in a theological or biblical discipline which enables them to be recognised by their denomination as a minister of that community. They have demonstrated consistently to a range of people (academic / pastoral / practical) that they have effective communication and relational skills in order to have achieved this level of accreditation. A formal recognised qualification in theology or religious study generally representing at least three years of Part Time study, normally to Diploma standard will be required of all non-ordained chaplains.
- Formal endorsement of the candidate’s denominational accreditation will be required from the Free Churches Faith Advisor. Church leaders at a regional or national level, i.e. Moderators, Chairs, Regional Ministers etc. will be asked to provide written confirmation to the Faith Advisor attesting to the credentials, qualifications and accountability of each candidate (This evidence will be required before appointment and thereafter periodically according to HMPPS vetting policy)
- In order to maintain endorsement by the Free Churches Faith Advisor all chaplains will be expected to demonstrate regular ongoing reflection or training contributing towards their ongoing professional development as ministers.
Ordained Priest or Bishop
- Be an ordained priest or bishop of the Orthodox Church in Communion with the See of Constantinople, and/or Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria.
- Will normally need to have been in Holy Orders for a minimum of three years. Have formal endorsement in the form of the certificate of Ordination of a Bishop, Metropolitan or Patriarch. *(Evidence required before appointment or approval from the Advisor to MOJ subject to agreement from Orthodox Advisor to MOJ/ Orthodox Bishop’s Pastoral Committee).
Ordained Deacon, Sub deacon, Religious Brother/Sister/ Reader
- Be an Ordained Deacon, Sub deacon, Reader or monastic or be qualified by the Bishops for this ministry.
- Have formal endorsement in the form of the certificate of Ordination or qualification from a Bishop, Metropolitan or Patriarch. *(Evidence required before appointment or approval from the Advisor to MOJ, subject to agreement from Orthodox Advisor to MOJ/ Orthodox Bishop’s Pastoral Committee.)
- Be an ordained priest in the Roman Catholic Church.
- Formal endorsement in the form of recognition from the appropriate Diocesan Bishop or Religious Superior and formal agreement to work in a specific diocese by the local Diocesan Bishop (Evidence required before appointment)
Ordained Deacon, Religious Brother/Sister/ Lay Person
- Be an ordained Permanent Deacon, a Religious Brother or Sister or a suitably qualified lay person of the Roman Catholic Church
- Formal endorsement in the form of recognition from the appropriate Diocesan Bishop or Religious Superior and formal agreement to work in a specific diocese by the local Diocesan Bishop (Evidence required before appointment)
- Chaplains should be members of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Chaplains should be class taught students, by an authorised teacher of Christian Science.
- Chaplains should be active members of a Christian Science branch church or society.
- Chaplains should be endorsed by the Christian Science Prison Chaplains Committee
- Be a committed and practising Hindu.
- Display a competent understanding of Hindu teaching and practice.
- Have demonstrable knowledge of Hindu philosophy and rituals.
- Have relevant practical experience
- Have endorsement from the Prison Service Hindu Faith Adviser* (Evidence required before appointment)
- Have a cohesive system of values or beliefs but which do not self-classify as religious. These should be serious, genuinely and sincerely held, and worthy of respect in a democratic society
- An ability to articulate the values and beliefs above
- Have received formal endorsement from the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network
- A minister for Jehovah’s Witnesses must be an appointed elder.
- Have a formal nomination from the body of elders of the congregation where he is an appointed elder.
- Have formal endorsement by the prison service faith advisor for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
- Measure up to the Scriptural qualifications found at 1 Timothy 3:1-10; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:2, 3 and display them to a consistent and reasonable degree.
- Have a thorough understanding of the beliefs, teachings and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses and is committed to living by the Bible’s moral values and standards.
Jewish:
- Be an ordained Rabbi,
- In lieu of ordination, be a committed, practising and knowledgeable Jewish lay person.
- Have endorsement from the Prison Service Jewish Faith Adviser* (Evidence required before appointment)
- Have an in-depth knowledge of Islam (preferably hold a recognised qualification in Islamic Studies at graduate level).
- Demonstrate at least three years of excellent Imam skills (relevant practical experience including delivery of worship, group work and pastoral care.).
- Formal endorsement by the candidate’s faith community – through the Prison Service Muslim Adviser at Chaplaincy HQ* (Evidence required before appointment)
- Possess and prove an in-depth knowledge of, and experience in, your own Pagan Tradition,
- You will require an eclectic approach, so a working knowledge of other traditions is essential.
- Possess the confidence and expertise to lead open ritual, officiate in Rites of Passage, and run workshops for mixed Pagan traditions within the prison system.
- Have formal endorsement by the candidate’s faith community – through the Prison Service Pagan Faith Adviser at Chaplaincy HQ (Evidence required before appointment)
- Be a Member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in good standing.
- Have demonstrable in-depth knowledge of Quaker faith and practice. It is desirable although not essential that candidates will have completed the Equipping for Ministry course at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre
- Have formal endorsement by the candidate’s faith community – through the Prison Service Quaker Adviser
- Must be a committed Rastafarian
- Must demonstrate a high level of consciousness towards the principles of Rastafari
- Must have a high tolerance and flexibility when working with the various members of the Rastafari family
- Must have a general understanding of all the Rastafarian Mansions/Houses
- Must have the endorsement of the prison service Rastafari faith advisers
Essential
- Practicing Sikh, preferably Amritdhari, who wears the Sikh Symbols.
- Display an in-depth understanding of Sikh teaching and practice and be able to read and recite Gurbani (Sikh prayers).
- Committed to the Sikh Rehat Maryada (Code of Conduct) & Guru Granth Sahib.
- Have endorsement from the Prison Service Sikh Faith Adviser* (Evidence required before appointment).
- Ability to communicate in Punjabi
- Must have passed the required prison chaplain training as set by the Spiritualists’ National Union (which is the governing body for Spiritualism)
- Must be approved/endorsed by the SNUs Ministers Administration Committee
Technical Requirements
Must complete specific training to hold the qualifications required for area of specialism outlined on the relevant Job Description.
Must be suitably qualified and have a formal recognised qualification in theology or religious study and be experienced such that the job holder will have received formal endorsements (where relevant) from the faith community to which they belong.
Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances
37 hour working week
Salary
£39,674 - £45,625
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on ‘modernised’ terms in their current post or onto ‘unmodernised’ MoJ terms if they are on ‘unmodernised’ terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Standard working hours for this post are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid.
If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.
The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate’s Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.
Benefits
Annual Leave
- The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.
Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays
- You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment
Pension
- The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Work Life Balance
HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ
Season Ticket Advance
- After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work
Childcare Vouchers
For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
Training
HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes
- There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts
- All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles
Eligibility
- All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post
- All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS
- All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([email protected]);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
